Illuminated advertising device



y 1951 R. B AXTER 2,552,249

ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed.Jan. 26, 1948 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. 1906 an 50x fer Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an illuminated advertising device.

The use of conductive gas tubes for advertising has steadily increased .in the past few years in what is commonly referred to as neon signs. Most of these signs are made up especially by companies which are equipped to form a complete sign to the order of the customer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sign mount in which individual letters may be arranged at the will of the sign owner to convey the message desired. He may have a stock of letters on hand which will form any message that the capacity of the sign will accept, and this may be done simply by inserting thegletters in the provided mounting means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a conducting means for the amount which requires no attention from the sign user and which automatically conducts electricity to the inserted letters in response to their insertion. Furthermore any spacing of letters may be obained without the use of jumpers to bridge the spaces.

It is another object to provide an inexpensive sign mount which may be manufactured and sold at low cost to make it available to a large number of users. The device may have special application for theaters where it is desirable to announce to the public the various billings that appear.

Other objects and features of the invention have to do with the details of construction which will be apparent in the following description and claims.

Drawings accompany the specification and the various views may be briefly described as:

Figure 1, an elevation of the sign partially in section showing the external and internal construction.

Figure 2, a sectional view taken transversely of Figure l on line 22.

Figure 3, a horizontal partial section of Figure 1 on line 3-3.

Figure 4, a modified view of the invention shown partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the manner in which the ends of the conductive means are connected in a circuit.

Figure 5, a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6, a view of an individual conducting leaf which is used to form the series circuit from end to end of the device.

Figure '7, a modified conducting channel for passing current along the sign or to the inserted letters.

Asshown inthe drawings, a series ofconductive gas tube letters are provided, each of which has two terminal extensions 22 and 24, which extend in parallel relation at the bottom of the letter. At the end of each extension is a contact cup 26 formed of a conductive material which transmits electricity to the inner electrodes of the particular letters of Figure l, which maybe referred to as 22R and 24R for the letter .R and 22M and 24M for the letter M, etc.

The mounting means consists of a U-shaped inverted shell 30 which may be formed of an extruded ormolded plastic or some similar material which is decorative in appearance. The elongate shell is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 32 and 34 which may be referred to as pairsof sockets to receive the parallel extensions of the tube letters.

Between the legs of the inverted U-shaped member 30 is an elongate base member 40. This base member may also be formed of an extruded plastic or similar material and is preferably nonconductive. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, side grooves 42 receive inwardly extending tongues 44 so that a. tongue and groove arrangement is provided between the parts. At one edge of the base is a vertical back member 46 extending the length of base 40. In the top surface 41 of the base 40 is a narrow and dee slot 48 which extends likewise throughout the length of the base. The space between the slot 48 and the front surface 49 of the back member 46 is approximately equal to the diameter of the individual terminal extensions of the letters 20.

Positioned along the slot 48 are a plurality of conductive sheets or leaves 50 the design of which is shown in Figure 6. The leaves 5!! have a base or lower edge 52 and a longitudinally extending finger 54 spaced from the base except at the connecting point and which projects beyond the base 52 at one end. At the other end of the base 52 is a lateral projection 55, and between the finger 54 and the projection 55 is another lateral projection 56. These conductive sheets are preferably formed of copper or some similar material which conducts electricity readily. The leaves 50 are placed in the slot 48 in over-lapping relation as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3. The finger 54 of each'leaf over-laps the projection 55 of ad- .iacent leaf. At the top of the leaf 50 adjacent the point where finger 54 connects to the base is a projection 58 which is cammed over as shown best in'Figure 3 for-a purpose which will be later explained. Similarly, the top end of lateral projection 56 is curved as shown best in Figure 2 at 59. A locking clip shown at 60 in Figure 2 tions of the adjacent leaves is between the spaced holes 32 and 34 for each letter position. Thus the over-lapping portion falls between the ter minal extensions of each letter in eachcase.

When a letter is inserted into the mount the conductive end caps 26 will rest on the-surface 41 of the base 49. In reaching this position, the terminal 22R as shown in Figure 1 will contact and move in beside the lateral projection in conductive relation thereto. The curved end 59 permits this movement without jamming. When the leg 25R goes into position it will contact the cam tip 58 at the base of finger 5e and laterally displace the finger 55 to break the contact with the adjacent leaf projection 55. This contact'break is shown to best advantage in Figure 3 between terminals 22M and 2AM. Thus when any particular pair of holes 52 and 3d are occupied by the extensions 22 and 2d of a letter, current will be shunted from the leaves to the letter terminals to make the letter a part of the series circuit of the mount. The leaves are so arranged in over-lapping contact in the absence of a letter that current will be carried past a vacant letter opening.

In Figures 4 and 5 a modified construction is shown utilizing the same principles. In this construction, a base it has a slot '52 to receive the leaves 55. The base, which has a vertical projection IE, is capped by a top plate it having the spaced holes to receive the terminal extensions of individual letters. Face plate 18 serves to enclose the members and may also serve to carry various additional advertising matter to correlate with the particular letter arrangement which is to be found in the mount. The manner in which the connecting ends 54 and 65 are fastened to the end leaves 58 is shown in Figure 4. In other respects the operation of the embodiment of Figure 4 is like that described in detail in Figure 1.

It will be understood that while the disclosure has been made with a plurality of letters, that these letters might be any configuration used for decorative purposes, and when the term letter is used in the specification and claims, it should be taken to mean any individual configuration, including letters, numbers and other symbols or decorative designs. 7

In Figure '1 I have shown a modified current conducting means which consists of a plurality of channel members each having a base 84 and a. back $5. The back 85 has a cam portion 85 to'prevent jamming as the ends of the letters are inserted into the channel. The front of the channel has two legs 88 and 90. The channels are'mounted on a suitable baseboard 82 formed of an insulating material, The channels are formed of conductive material. On leg 96 is mounted a spring finger 94 extending in the direction of the channels to overlap leg 83 of an adjacent channelas they are positioned in spaced aligned relation on the baseboard. The spring finger 94 consists of a conductive strip"95, one

end of which contacts an edge of leg 58 on the same channel and the other end of which overlaps leg 88 of the adjacent channel. Paralleled with strip 95 is a leaf spring strip 95 which is fastened with strip 95 to leg 95 by a small bolt or other suitable means. The leaf spring S5 serves to maintain the strip 95 in contact with the legs 88 at all times unless intentionally displaced.

The channel assembly of Figure 7 is to be used in the same manner as the assemblies of Figures 1 and 4. A letter may be disposed in the channel assembly such that one contact projection lies between back 85 and that portion of strip 95 to the right of leg 99. This will displace strip 95 such that it will not contact leg 88 of the adjacent channel. The other contact projection of the letter will lie between back 85 and the left end of strip 95. Thus current may shunt through the letter when in place and through the strip when the letter is removed. In addition, spring 95 exerts clipping force on the contact projections 22 and 24 to hold them firmly in place. Thus the channel serves simultaneously as asupport and conductive source of current.

I claim: 1. A mount for luminous gas tube letters which comprises a plurality of pairs of sockets to receive terminals of individual letters in interchangeable arrangement, means disposed adjacent said sockets to transmit current from one socket to another in series comprising a plurality of conductive members aligned with overlapping ends in current carrying contact, one end of each member being laterally displaceable to break contact with the next adjacent member, said displaceable ends being shiftable in response toinsertion of letter terminals to break contact between the sockets of any one pair of sockets in which a letter is inserted and shunt current through said gas tube letter in the series.

2. A mount for luminous gas tube letters which comprises a plurality of pairs of sockets arranged end to end in spaced relation to receive and support terminals of individual letters, means disposed end to end adjacent said sockets to transmit current from one socket to another in series comprising a plurality of conductive members disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of each letter into and out of the respective sockets, said members lying in overlapping conductive relation, and means shiftable in response to insertion of a letter terminal in a socket to displace one end of said conductive members to break contact between the sockets of any one pair of occupied sockets and shunt current through the letter supported in such sockets.

3. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the mounting means comprising an elongate member with aligned spaced holes to receive the spaced terminals, and the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of sheets of conductive material, eachhaving a base to be received and held in a mounting slot, a contact finger projecting longitudinaily beyond said base to lie in contact with an adjacent sheet, two transverse projections, one contact the finger of the next preceding and one to contact a letter terminal, said fir being displaceable by a letter terminal to bi contact between letter terminals wherever a letter is inserted and to shunt current through the particuiar inserted letter.

4. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of sheets of conductive material, each having a base to be received and held in a mounting slot, a contact finger projecting longitudinally beyond said base to lie in contact with an adjacent sheet, and two transverse projections, one to contact a letter terminal, said finger being displaceable by a letter terminal to break contact between letter terminals wherever a letter is inserted and to shunt current through the particular inserted letter.

5. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of sheets of conductive material supported in over-lapping elongate relation, the over-lapped portion falling between terminal locations of any particular letter, said terminal to break the over-lap contact and thereby shunting current through the inserted gas tube letter.

6. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of sheets of conductive material, each sheet having a bifurcate longitudinally extending portion and a biiurcate transversely extending portion, one of the forks of the longitudinally extending bifurcate being arranged to overlap and contact one of the forks of the transversely extending bifurcate as said sheets are arranged in aligned relation.

7. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of channels lying in aligned spaced relation and formed of conductive material, each having one channel side extending lengthwise beyond the other side and base of the channel to overlap and contact the side of an adjacent channel and being displaceable by a letter terminal to break such contact.

8. In a system for connecting a plurality of gas tube letters in interchangeable relation in an electric circuit of the type comprising a plurality of formed letters, each having a pair of terminals spaced equally and projecting in parallel relation with means for mounting said letters and means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location in said supporting means, said circuit being opened between any two letter terminals in response to the presence of said terminals in mounted position to shunt current through a letter, the means forming a connecting series circuit between each terminal location comprising a plurality of channels lying in aligned spaced relation and formed of conductive material, each having one channel side extending lengthwise beyond the other side and base of the channel to overlap and contact the side of an adjacent channel and spring means reinforcing said extending channel side 7 to exert force toward the other channel side. sheets being displaceable by an inserted letter ROBERT BAXTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,045,229 I-Iough June 23, 1936 2,119,157 Fodor May 31, 1938 2,145,967 Boland Feb. 7, 1939 2,240,917 Tschopp May 6, 1941 2,245,681 Kenigsberg June 17, 1941 2,305,942 Weiss Dec. 22, 1942 2,344,815 Guyral Mar. 21, 1944 2,375,807 Miller May 14, 1945 

